Wide variability among states in Medicaid prescriptions for buprenorphine 

Evidence has shown that buprenorphine is effective to help those with opioid use disorder, but a new report finds a more than thirtyfold difference in Medicaid prescriptions for the medication among some states. Here’s more: 

• Overall prescriptions: Prescriptions increased fivefold across all states from 2011-2018, from 1.3 million to 6.2 million. States that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act had higher prescription rates. 
• State-level trends: Vermont had the highest rate with 1,210 prescriptions per 1,000 Medicaid enrollees. It was 200 times the rate for the state with the lowest rate, Arkansas, and 46% higher than the next highest state, West Virginia. 
• The takeaway: Some states may have fewer people with opioid use disorder, which could partially explain the findings, but not how wide the gaps are, the authors write. They also urge states to consider policy solutions to increase prescriptions.